Name

Nootka (NOOT-kah) means "little Anna" in Inuit.
Noni (NO-nee) means "gift of God" in an African language; an Irish pet name for Ione, Nona, and Nora meaning "honorable."

Her Story

Nootka V was likely born in the year 1976. She was captured off the southeast coast of Iceland near Ingolfshöfdi in October 1979. She was held at Sædyrasafnid in Iceland until she was sold to MarineLand of Canada the following month in November.

When she arrived at MarineLand, Nootka was first known as Noni likely because of another orca living there at the same time who was also named Nootka*. Nootka connected with another young female named Kiska who arrived in 1981. Five years later in December 1986, Kandu VII* arrived at the park. Nootka, Kiska, and Kandu would live together in the King Waldorf Stadium for over a decade.

Halfway through a show on August 15, 1989, MarineLand trainers noticed an extra set of flukes in the "ready" pool where Nootka was swimming. She was quickly released into the main pool where she gave birth to her first calf, a son named Splash*. For over two years, Splash delighted visitors, but in April 1992, he was sold to SeaWorld San Diego in order to make room for more births.

On October 21, 1992, Nootka gave birth to her second calf, a daughter named Neocia*. A second daughter, Malik*, was born on April 21, 1996. Nootka gave birth a fouth time on May 27, 1998 to a third daughter. After 11 days, the calf died on June 7, 1998.

In July 1998, Friendship Cove was opened, and the orcas were moved into their new exhibit. Neocia was kept in the King Waldorf Stadium during the summer seasons, but during the off-seasons, she was moved into Friendship Cove.

Nootka gave birth to her second son, Algonquin*, on December 18, 1999. Malik passed away on March 4, 2000 from a liver infection and immune system failure. Nootka suffered a miscarriage in the 2001/2002 off-season. On August 13, 2002, Algonquin passed away from a twisted intestine.

On April 7, 2004, Nootka gave birth to a sixth calf. It's thought that the female calf was named "April"*. She passed away sometime in May 2004 before the park opened for the summer season. The cause of her death was malnutrition. Later that year on August 1, 2004, Neocia passed away from an internal infection.

Splash passed away on April 5, 2005 from a perforated stomach. For years, he had lived with epilepsy, but SeaWorld San Diego staff had been able to treat his condition. Nootka miscarried a second time in late May/early June 2006.

On January 8, 2008, Nootka passed away. Nookta was about 32-years-old.

Transfers

October 1979 - November 30, 1979 (Sædyrasafnid, Iceland)
November 30, 1979 - January 8, 2008 (MarineLand of Canada)

Identification Guide



Known Family Members

Daughters: Neocia*, Malik*, 1998 calf*, and "April"*
Sons: Splash* and Algonquin*
Possible relatives: unnamed female*

* = Deceased